Cooler mechanisms



Sept. 18, 1962 w. DISLER COOLER MECHANISMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb.10, 1960 INVENTOR.

FIG.

LOYD w. DlSLER ATTORNEY Sept. 18. 1962 w. DISLER COOLER MECHANISMS 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 10, 1960 EM 14m BM KLJ wil FIG. 4

IN V EN TOR.

LOYD W. DISLER ATTORNEY 3,054,598 COOLER MEQHANISMS Loyd Warner Disler,Tulsa, Gkita, assignor to Disler Engineering Corporation, a corporationof ()lrlahoma Filed Feb. 10, 1960, Ser. No. 7,909 3 Claims. (ill.257-137) This invention relates to improvements in cooler mechanisms,and more particularly to improved side panel designs for coolermechanisms.

This invention may be described as a cooler mechanism, comprising: abase; side panels supported substantially perpendicularly to said base;a back panel; integrally formed angular portions extending the length ofone end of each of said side panels adaptable to receiving andsupporting said back panel; headers supported substantiallyperpendicularly on said base; integrally formed angular portionsextending the length of the other end of each of said side panelsadapted to receive and support said headers; a fan bonnet; bonnetportions extending substantially perpendicular to said side panels andintegrally formed therewith intermediate said ends adaptable to receiveand support said fan bonnet; and inlet plenum portions integrally formedin said side panels extending from said bonnet portions to said angularportions engaging said headers.

An object of this invention is to provide a cooler mechanism having sidepanels formed in a novel manner whereby said side panels provide greatlyimproved structural rigidity to the mechanism.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel cooler mechanismincluding an improved side panel design wherein the constructionmaterials required are materially reduced.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel side paneldesigned for cooler mechanisms wherein the mechanism will be moreeconomical to manufacture and assemble.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel side panel designfor a cooler mechanism permitting ample space for flanged nozzles andwhereby the nozzles are not required to be off-Set to permit flangeclearance.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cooler mechanism havingnovel side panel designs whereby all piping connections to the coolermechanisms may be maintained in straight lines.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel side panel designfor cooler mechanism having improved air flow characteristics.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel side panel designfor a cooler mechanism wherein mounting means for the fan bonnet areintegrally provided.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel side panel designfor cooler mechanisms which will be sufficiently rigid as to eliminatethe requirement for Welded braces and which thereby will be morestreamlined in appearance in that the buckling and warping encounteredin welding will be eliminated.

These and other objects, and a better understanding of this inventionmay be had by referring to the following description and claims taken inconjunction with the attached drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a cooler mechanism having the novel sidepanel design of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional View taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of theside panel design of this invention.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cooler mechanism taken alongthe line 44 of FIGURE 3.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, the side view of a cooler mechanism isshown. The coo er mechanism is supsenses Patented Sept. 18, 1962 portedon base channels 10. Headers 12 are also supported on the base channeland engage side panels 14. Provided as a means of conducting gases whichare to be cooled into the cooling mechanism, nozzles 16 are affixed toheaders 12, usually by welding.

On the ends of the nozzles 16, as a means of connecting the coolermechanism in the field, are flanges 18. When the cooler mechanism ispositioned on its permanent location in the field, pipes 20, with pipeflanges 22, are connected to flanges 18 to provide a means of conductinggas into and away from the cooler mechanism.

A fan sheave 24, aflixed to fan shaft 26, is provided whereby a primemover (not shown) may be connected by belts to the cooler mechanism. 1

Referring now to FIGURE 2, the novel side panel de sign of the inventionis best disclosed. The cooler mechanism functions to move air pastfinned tubes 28 through which the gas to be cooled is passing. Thefinned tubes 28 (the fins are not shown) are connected from header 12Ato header 1213. The gas to be cooled enters one side of the coolermechanism, for instance through nozzle 16A and to header 12A. The gasthen flows through the multitude of finned tubes 28 to the other header123 where it is removed through nozzle 16B. The heat of the gastraveling through the multiplicity of finned tubes 28 is conducted bythe finned tubes 28 to the air so that heat contained by the gastemperature is reduced.

In order to expose the interior of finned tubes 28 to permit them to becleaned of any deposits which may occur, brass plugs 30 are provided inheaders 12A and 1213 in direct line with each of the finned tubes 28. Byremoving brass plugs 30, direct passage is available for inserting acleaning tool into each finned tube 28 to remove any deposits.

Air is moved through or past the finned tubes 28 by a fan 32 which isrotated by fan shaft 26. Fan shaft 26 is supported by shaft bearings 34which are in turn supported by bearing supports 36. Bearing supports 36are mounted on base channels 10, as best shown in FIG- URE 4.

Air which is drawn past finned tubes 28 is expelled out the open top ofthe cooler mechanism. Fins 38, shown in dotted lines of FIGURE 1, areprovided to smoothly direct the air upward which helps eliminateturbulence that would reduce flowing efliciencies.

The cavity contained within the cooler mechanism may be dividedgenerally into two portions. First, there is the inlet plenum portionindicated generally by the numeral 40, and second, the outlet plenumportion, indicated generally by numeral 42. The division between theinlet plenum portion 40 and outlet plenum portion 42 is the fan 32.During operation, the air pressure within inlet plenum chamber 40 willbe below atmospheric pressure, whereas air pressure in the outlet plenumchamber 42 will be above atmospheric pressure.

Nozzle flange 18 and pipe flange 22 are considerably larger in diameterthan nozzles 16 and pipe 20. The large diameter of flanges 18 and 22 isnecessary to provide leak proof seals at the high gas pressuresencountered in industry. The large diameter of flanges 18 and 22introduces problems in the design of cooler mechanisms. As can be seenin FIGURE 2, if the side panel 14 extended straight back from its pointof juncture with headers 12A and 12B, there would not be clearance forflanges 18 and 22. To overcome this problem one method which has beencontinuously used for many years is to provide oflset nozzles 16 havingdouble angular turns, for instance two degree turns, allowing room forflanges 18 and 22. This procedure naturally increases the expense ofconstruction of the cooler mechanism, impairs the overall appearance,and increases the required floor space area. Another means of solvingthe problem of providing clearance for flanges 1'8 and has been toprovide an angular bracket (not shown) adjacent the headers 12 so thatthe side panel 14 is set in, permitting nozzle 16 to be straight and yetleave clearance for flanges 18 and 22. However, this system has adisadvantage in that the total effective area of the finned tubes 28 isreduced, which reduces the overall cooling efficiency of the mechanism.The novel design of the side panels 14 of this invention is such thatclearance is provided for flanges 18 and 22 without reducing theeffective area of the finned tubes 28.

Side panels 14 of FIGURE 2 are integrally formed from continuous singlesheets of steel. They can be divided, for purposes of clarity, into twomajor portions, consisting of first, the outlet plenum chamber portions44 and second, the inlet plenum chamber portions 46. Fan bonnet portions48 serves to connect the inlet plenum chamber portions 46 with theoutlet plenum chamber portions 44. It will be noted that the inletplenum chamber portions 46 are angled so that the total width betweenthe side panels 14 at the point where flanges 18 and 22 are positionedis materially reduced. This permits clearance for flanges 18 and 22. I

The angular configuration whereby inlet plenum chamber portions 46,outlet plenum chamber portions 44, and fan bonnet portions 48 areintegrally formed has many advantages which may not be first observable.The angular position of inlet plenum chamber portions 46 forms animproved airfoil design whereby air entering inlet plenum chamber 40through finned tubes 28 is conducted more smoothly and efiiciently tothe fan 32. The fan bonnet portion 48, being substantially perpendicularto outlet plenum chamber portion 44, serves to add a great degree ofrigidity to side panel 14 so that no additional bracing or reinforcingis necessary in the construction. Also of great importance is theprovision of fan bonnet portion 48 as a mounting surface to which fanbonnet 50 may be supported to side panels 14. Fan bonnet 50 consists oftwo portions. First there is a flat steel element 50A having an openingslightly larger than the diameter of fan 32. Second, an articulatedsteel element 50B is welded to the opening in fan bonnet element 50A. Inthe previous means of constructing cooler mechanisms wherein straightsheets of metal were used for side panels 14, it was necessary to weldan angular brace along the side panel 14 to provide a means forsupporting fan bonnet 50. Thus the configuration of side panel 14 ofFIGURE 2 eliminates the necessity of the material re quired to constructa bracket to support fan bonnet 50 and also of course, eliminates thetime and labor involved in providing this element.

To further increase the economy and structural advantages of the sidepanel design of this invention, front and back angular portions '52 and54 are provided. Back angular portions 54 are integrally formed in theside panels 14 by rolling or bending the material to a 90 degree angle,and front angle portions 52 are rolled or bent to parallel back angularportions 54. Front angular portion 52 provides a fiat surface againstwhich headers 12A and 12B may be easily and rigidly supported. Backangular portions 54 provide a smooth and convenient surface for mountingback panels 56. In previous means of constructing cooler mechanismswherein flat sheet material was used for side panels 14, it wasnecessary to provide an angular brace at the front and back end to whichthe back panel 56 and the headers 12 could be welded. By the provisionof this invention wherein the front angular portions 52 and back angularportions 54 are integrally formed the necessity for the angular bracesis eliminated thereby effecting a great saving in time, labor andexpense, and also providing side panels 14 which are much more rigid.

It is noted that fan 32, surrounded by fan bonnet 50', is set back awayfrom finned tubes 28 a distance. This forms inlet plenum chamber 40 andhas the advantage that the vacuum or suction created by the movement offan 32 is distributed evenly over the total area of finned tubes 28. Iffan 32 was set too near the finned tubes 28 only the area approximatingthe diameter of fan 32 would be subjected to movement of air which wouldreduce the efiective area of the rectangular configuration of finnedtubes 28.

Referring to FIGURE 3, an alternate embodiment of the novel side paneldesign of this invention is shown. In this arrangement inlet plenumchamber portions 46 are paralleled with outlet plenum chamber portions44. Fan bonnet portions 48 are provided to integrally connect the inletand outlet plenum chamber portions 44 and 46. The total width of thecooler mechanism between the outlet plenum chamber portions 44 of sidepanels 14 is such that ample clearance is provided for flanges 18 and20. Front angular portions 52 and back angular portions 54 are alsointegrally formed in the design of FIGURE 3.

The design of FIGURE 3 incorporates all of the advantages andimprovements before mentioned for the design of FIGURE 2 with theexception of the improved airfoil feature. For this reason the design ofFIGURE 2 is considered to be the more optimum embodiment of theinvention.

FIGURE 4 shows the arrangement of the fan 32, surrounded by fan bonnet5.0 in relation to the side panels 14 of this invention. The bolt holes58 in flange 22 are shown as a means whereby flanges 18 and 22 aresupported together.

It can be seen that the novel features of the side panel design of thisinvention permits the construction of cooler mechanisms requiring agreat deal less structural members and consequently less welding andlabor time. It is well known that when any relatively large flat area ofsteel is to be welded the heat imparted in the welding process causesthe flat material to warp and buckle. Due to the configuration of theside panels 14 of FIGURE 2 and FIGURE 3, very little welding is requiredto support the elements of the cooler mechanism together, andconsequently it is possible to produce a finished cooler mechanism ofgreatly improved appearance and rigidity.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is manifest that many changes may be made in thedetails of construction and the arrangement of components withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

I claim:

1. A heat exchanger, comprising, in combination; a base; a first and asecond hollow header member vertically supported on said base in aspaced relationship with each other; a multiplicity of ,hollow finnedtubes extendingrsubstantially horizontally from said first to saidsecond header member, each of said finned tubes com municating at oneend with said first header member and at the opposite end with saidsecond header member; a vertical back panel supported on said baseparallel to and in a spaced relationship with said header members, saidback panel having an opening therein; a first and a second side panelvertically supported on said base in a spaced relationship with eachother and perpendicularly to said back panel, each of said side panelshaving an integrally formed vertical angular portion extending thelength of each end thereof, one of said angular portions of said firstside panel engaging and supporting said first header member and theotherof said angular portions of said first side panel engaging andsupporting said back panel, one of said angular portions of,saidsecondside panel engaging and supporting said second header memberand the other of said angular portions of said second sidepanel engagingand supporting said back panel, each of said panels having integrallyformed vertical fan bonnet portions extending the length thereof, saidfan bonnet portions extending substantially perpendicularly of said sidepanels and in a spaced relationship from said header members; a verticalfan bonnet member supported on said base and aihxed at each end thereofto said fan bonnet portion of each of said side panels whereby a firstplenum chamber is provided between said fan bonnet member and saidfinned tubes extending between said header members and a second plenumchamber is provided between said fan bonnet member and said back panel,said fan bonnet having a circular opening therein and an articulatedsteel element welded to said fan bonnet member at the totalcircumference of said opening and extending perpendicularly to said fanbonnet member; at least two bearing supports supported on said basewithin said second plenum chamber having shaft bearings thereon; a shaftrotatably supported by said shaft bearings, said shaft extending throughsaid opening in said back panel; a fan afiixed to said shaft adaptableupon rotation of said shaft to rotate within said articulated steelelement welded to said fan bonnet member; and means affixed to saidshaft exterior of said back panel to impart rotary energy to said shaftto rotate said fan whereby air is pulled through said finned tubes andinto said first plenum chamber and from said first plenum chamber pastsaid fan into said second plenum chamber and out the top of said secondplenum chamber.

2. A heat exchanger according to claim 1 wherein each of said integrallyformed vertical fan bonnet portions of said side panels extend inwardlyfrom said side panels and in a direction towards each other and whereinthe portion of each of said side panels extending from said integrallyformed fan bonnet portions to said integrally formed vertical angularportions engaging said header members is parallel to each other and of agreater distance apart than the portions of: said side panels extendingfrom said integrally formed bonnet portions to said integrally formedangular portions engaging said back panel.

3. A heat exchanger according to claim 1 wherein each of said integrallyformed vertical fan bonnet portions of said side panels extend outwardlyfrom said side panels and in a direction away from each other andwherein the portion of each of said side panels extending from saidintegrally formed bonnet portions to said integrally formed verticalangular portions engaging said header members are at an angle with eachother and wherein the distance between said side panels at saidintegrally formed vertical angular portions engaging said header membersis substantially equal to the distance between the portions of said sidepanels extending between said integrally formed fan bonnet portions andsaid integrally formed vertical angular portions engaging said backpanel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,754,642 Modine Apr. 15, 1930 2,004,151 Angstman June 11, 19352,043,450 Simmons June 9, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS 451,061 Canada Sept. 7,194 8

